Founded in 1969, the AHA is a non profit, 501c3 organization funded by donations, and membership to the association. Our primary goals are to provide education to the public about reptiles and amphibians; foster an environment where people can appreciate reptiles and amphibians as a community; and to rescue and relocate reptiles that find themselves in harms way. By joining the AHA, you can help to allow us to continue to provide these services to our community!

Please click on this link to view the printable membership form! Please bring the form to the next A.H.A. meeting.

Executive Director of The Rattlesnake Conservancy, Tony Daly-Crews, will discuss the various conservation programs the organization implements and discuss how members can become part of a movement to conserve rattlesnakes. Similar to many other species, rattlesnakes face threats of urban encroachment, fragmentation, loss of habitat and over-wintering sites, and the added caveat of being one of the most despised groups of animals. With almost no federal, state, or local protections, they are collected by the thousands for eradication with no regulation or harvest limits. Rattlesnakes meet their fate for the simple crime of being alive and straying into the wrong backyard.

The Rattlesnake Conservancy was founded in 2015 “to advance the protection of rattlesnakes, and their habitat, through research and education”. Our research programs and collaborations are targeted for meaningful contributions to the scientific community and having specific on-the-ground conservation outcomes.

The venomous training programs we provide empower individuals to become confident in their skills and abilities to handle challenging situations and advocate for coexistence with rattlesnakes. We set the standard for safely working with venomous reptiles and continue to expand this program to a wider audience.

We collaborate with conservation partners to communicate the relevance of rattlesnakes for ecosystem integrity, but also human health and medical advancement. Our education programs reach thousands annually and help transform the way people perceive rattlesnakes. Support of major events like the Claxton Rattlesnake Festival, formerly a rattlesnake roundup, make a difference for rattlesnake conservation and people. We devote resources to these festivals in the hope of promoting change of other rattlesnake roundups across the United States. Future conservation actions involve respecting the community economic input from current roundups, while creating sustainable practices for future events.